Yb: CaYAl3O7 crystal: a promising candidate for an ultrashort pulse laser with a disordered structure

We report on the crystal growth, structure, thermal, spectral properties, and laser performance of a novel disordered crystal, Yb3+-doped CaYAl3O7 (Yb: CYAM). The complete set of anisotropic thermal properties were systematically studied. Due to the random distributions of Y3+ and Ca2+ ions, the internal disordered structure determines a significant broadening of the absorption (FWHM=25 nm) and emission (FWHM=60 nm) bands. Polarized absorption, emission and gain cross-section spectra are determined. A maximum sigma(em) at 1011 nm for pi polarization was calculated to be 0.57 x 10(-20) cm(2). CW laser operation at 1.06 mu m with the c-cut sample has been demonstrated. A maximum power of 505 mW was achieved at 1026.5 nm, corresponding to the slope efficiency and optical conversion efficiency being 12.5% and 6.7%, respectively. Yb: CYAM crystal reveals its superiority and potentiality in the ultrashort pulse laser field. (C) 2020 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement